turn to
Britishverb
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Begin work, apply oneself to, as in Next he turned to cutting wood for the fire . This usage was first recorded in 1667.
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Refer to, consult, as in She turned to the help-wanted ads . This usage was first recorded in 1631.
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Appeal to, apply to for help, as in At a time like this one turns to one's closest friends , or We'll have to turn to the French consulate for more information . This usage was first recorded in 1821. Also see turn to good account .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But—now it’s our turn to play conspiracy theorist—it’s also terribly difficult to take her conversion at face value.
From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2026
Because I’m a stranger who people regularly turn to for financial help, my inbox typically overflows with general questions like the one above.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
WSJ: I have to turn to a more delicate topic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
“There’s actually a line to move up. You’re just waiting for your turn to step up” to capture the waterfall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
After an hour or two meandering through the redwoods, Mom sharing a bunch of different facts as we go, we turn to make our way back to the parking lot.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
